June 2019 WMCA E-Newsletter

Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association
Monthly Newsletter

THE TWO STEP SHUFFLE   If you’ve ever spent time on You-Tube searching for videos of the Two-Step Shuffle, you will see that there are many, many versions of basically the same dance all going forward, sideways then back and basically in circles.   It seems when it comes to getting legislation passed, it is similar to the two- step shuffle!  Your Legislative Communications and Advocacy Committee has been busy trying to get AB203/SB193 passed.   We’ve made some strides in the process as both the Assembly and Senate Committees have held a public hearing followed by Executive Committee Sessions in which the bills were recommended from both sides.   We are asking our Legislators to schedule it for a full vote so that it can go to the Governor as soon as possible.   However, we are hearing that they may want to hold off until the Fall session as they are wrestling with adopting the budget.   WEC has informed us they will need at least 6-9 months of lead-time to get their work done, as it will be absorbed into their regular course of work. The bill also requires municipalities to take steps with their elected bodies including writing an operational security plan and adopting a resolution as well as 90 day notice requirements to the county and state.    Considering this, we believe 9 months will be the minimum amount of time necessary for the state, counties and municipalities all to accomplish their planning processes.   Therefore, we really do need our Legislators to act now versus waiting until the Fall.    Please reach out to your Legislators to encourage them to speak to their leadership in the Assembly and Senate to move the bill forward now so that a solution can be ready for implementation in the Spring.   The Presidential Primary is going to be HUGE!

YES, I WILL!   This year’s Athenian Dialogue featuring the book “Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes is already full.  Without spoiling too much of the book, it chronicles Shonda’s year in which she turns her usual “no” response into a “yes” and the outstanding direction it takes both her career and life.   If you were not able to participate, I would encourage you to put this easy read book on your list of great summer reads.   Then set aside those feelings of shyness or self-doubt and try saying yes to all of the opportunities that come your way.   Say yes to opportunities to engage socially, professionally and in your relationships.   Push through those feelings of being uncomfortable or awkward and open yourself up to the challenge.  The moment of opportunity is upon us all to say yes, I will.

BLIND PIG, BLIND TIGER OR SPEAKEASY   These were slang terms used to refer to an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition era.   To keep the police at bay and gain entry, the patron would need to have the secret password, which was learned through word of mouth.   It has been one hundred years since the ratification of prohibition, which lasted over 13 long and tumultuous years.  It is only fitting that we acknowledge our past while celebrating our annual educational conference in fun, Speakeasy, 20’s style.   Wednesday night’s presidential reception will be a Speakeasy Juice Joint!   Show up in your casual party clothes (flapper/gangster style, encouraged but optional).   To get in, be sure to ask a Conference Committee member for the secret password when you check in at the conference, then speak it softly at the entrance to get in the door.  Thursday’s banquet will be a 20’s themed dress up affair in Great Gadsby glitzy style (optional) while we celebrate the accomplishments of your fellow Clerks and hear about the direction our new President plans to take us in the coming year.   District Directors will be hosting tables in a competitive but fun evening of showy pageantry from the era of decadence, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and glitzy excess.  Be sure to join the party as we welcome our new family of Clerks, cheer for our many accomplishments and recognize our fellow Clerk friends on their successes over the past year.  

FOOD FOR THOUGHT   Going to conferences can be very difficult for those with food allergies and restricted diets!   Unfortunately, I know this all too well.   We often see the food served at conferences end up the topic of discourse for the “after conference” surveys as well.  I wanted to take a brief moment to explain the limited menu options when using the state rates.   You would not believe that the state rate is over $23 per person while the regular menu rate is closer to $48.   We utilize the state rates, because we want to keep our costs down for the benefit of our membership.   Of course, this means the menu options are limited so we do our best in making the meal selections.  Our hotel partners have usually been responsive in providing specialized meals to address allergies and restrictions such as gluten, shellfish, dairy, peanuts, etc.   However, it has been my experience that it can be a dice roll, especially when it comes to the break-time snacks.   If this is something you have struggled with in the past, do yourself a favor and bring some of your favorite diet restricted snacks or drinks with you to the conference.  I’ve done this for many years as no one wants to be around a hangry Clerk.   #SorryNotSorry!

President Kelly Michaels WCMC/CMC

The following qualified members applied for the Board of Director positions of 2nd Vice President; Director-at-Large; Treasurer and Secretary.  There were no competing members running for the same offices, therefore these members are declared the winners by acclamation for their 2019-2020 positions.

My name is Sara Bruckman and I am the Village Clerk for the Village of Shorewood in Milwaukee County.  I have been blessed with an amazing and supportive group of staff and co-workers.  The best part of being a clerk in urban setting is the amazing support and involvement from the community. 

I started in Municipal Government in 2011 as a Clerk/Typist for the Village of Greendale and within a short time was promoted to Utility Clerk. I enjoyed answering phones, handling taxes, and assisting with election related items. After a retirement in 2014, I was promoted to Deputy Clerk.  In 2016 I took the leap to become the Clerk for the City of Delafield and at the end of 2017 I accepted the Clerk position in the Village of Shorewood. 

Since I started in Municipal Government I have had the chance to learn and grow from some amazing mentors.  These people have provided the key to success and the support to continue with education and advancement.  It is a vital part of the WMCA to continually provide that support and education factor, in which I am a strong advocate for.  I graduated from the UWGB Clerk’s and Treasurers Institute in 2017 and was also a member of the Advisory Board.  I am currently the Wisconsin Municipal Clerk’s Director at Large and President for the Metro Municipal Clerk’s Association; which is an organization to improve local governmental administration in southeastern Wisconsin through local Municipal Clerks.  I look forward to serving as your 2^nd Vice President while supporting the continuous growth of the Municipal Clerk position.

For fun, I enjoy volunteering, cooking and event planning.  While am not working, I am spending time with my husband Brandon and our three children; Hannah 17, Emma 13 and Calvin 6.

My name is Jill Kenda-Lubetski and I am seeking the office of Director-At-Large. I initially started my career as the Deputy Clerk for the Village of Brown Deer (Milwaukee County) in 1998. I immediately joined the WMCA and attended a few district meetings and also some local Metro Municipal Clerk Association meetings in southeastern Wisconsin.  Our former Treasurer told me that I REALLY needed to attend the "Institute".   I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about; however, in 2003, I made my reservation and was tagged "Jilly Bean".  It was one of the better decisions I have made in my career in municipal government.  I love my job, the educational opportunities afforded to us, and have met some pretty amazing people along the way!

When our Village Manager/Clerk resigned in 2012, he recommended to our Village Board that I fill the position of Village Clerk. I am completing my term as a District 5 Co-Director, represented the WMCA in an abbreviated term as a Director-At-Large in 2016-2017 , served on the Milwaukee Conference Committee three times, the llMC Milwaukee Conference Committee, and been on the Scholarship Committee for 13 years, currentlyserving as the Chairperson. Attending Board of Directors meetings the past few years has inspired me to continue to be involved with the WMCA.    I would like to share my experience and the Director-At-Large position is the perfect opportunity to continue to play a role in that effort.  I will do my absolute best to represent the Clerk's profession and the WMCA membership.

If I am not working, I am probably spending time with my husband, Alan, and our dalmatian puppy, Lambeau, at our cottage in St. Germain.

My name is Brenda Ayers and I seeking the office of WMCA Treasurer for a third term. Prior to becoming Treasurer I served as a Director-at-Large in 2015-2016.   I am currently the Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer for the Town of Burke.  I have been a municipal Clerk/Treasurer for eighteen years. In August I will celebrate my eleven year anniversary at Burke.  Prior to my current position I was a Clerk/Treasurer in the Village of Dane and Town of Lodi. My Associate’s Degree in Accounting and six years of experience on the WMCA Finance Committee give me a solid foundation to serve as Treasurer.  In addition to my experience with the WMCA, I serve on the Board of Directors of the DeForest-Windsor Area Chamber and was a member of its Finance Committee.  During my first term as Treasurer, I worked with Faith and the Finance Committee to establish the WMCA Accounting Policies and Procedure Manual.  Over the years the WMCA has made a lot of progress in the handling of the finances of the organization and I would like to continue to play a role in that effort.

I want to continue to grow with WMCA, from previously being a District 7 Co-Director for one term to currently running for Secretary for my second term.  I believe in networking with other clerks to share ideas and experiences.  I also believe in all of the educational opportunities that WMCA brings its members.  I have served on several committees such as the Promotions Committee, Conference Committee, Certification Committee, and the Professional Education Committee.  I would like to encourage those who haven’t participated to get involved with this great organization.

In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and working on my side travel business.  Within the last year, I have traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Punta Cana, Bahamas, and Las Vegas.  During the summer, I love to go camping with my family at our permanent site in Farmer Gene’s Campground in Marion, WI.

IIMC congratulates the following individual who has earned the prestigious Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC):

Elena Hilby, CMC - City Clerk - City of Sun Prairie, WI - ehilby@cityofsunprairie.com

 Issue #6  
 June 2019

In This Issue

• President's Letter
• New 2019-20 Officers
• New IIMC CMC
• Committee Members
• Conference Registration
• Conference Scholarships
• Conference Hotels
• Master Academy
• WCEF Cash Raffle
• Bartender Class
• IIMC Winner Report

The WCEF Committee is ready to award $8,160 in scholarships to attend the 2019 Annual Conference in Madison!  This year’s scholarship amount is $340.  It will cover your early bird registration fee and 50% of your hotel expense.  ALL WMCA members are eligible to apply for a scholarship.  You can click here to go to the on-line application or click here to download a paper copy.  

Please remember that there are requirements to meet to be considered for the scholarship (such as timeliness/deadlines and completeness of the application.) AND requirements to meet once you are at the conference (such as attendance at classes and events).  Make sure that you read the instructions carefully and that you can fulfill your end of the bargain.  The WCEF Committee members don’t want to reject your application because it’s incomplete, and we don’t want to reduce or void your scholarship because you didn’t attend all your classes or events.  We WANT to give the money away – so apply today!

Racquel Shampo-Giese
WCEF Chairperson

NEW:  UWGB is offering badging.  It is an electronic badge/certification that you can attach to a resume, linked-in, a signature box etc.  which when opened is like a transcript of what you did to earn it. It is GREAT credentials that is really taking off in education.  We are the first University in the UW System doing it.  Click here to learn about the badge.  The (four) 4 classes listed at the bottom make up the certification/ badge.  They are all advanced classes and you have to take an assessment of learning and pass to earn it.
If you are not interested, you can pick and choose and take any of the  classes like in the past. 

Registration is Open - Click here to see the curriculum for the Master Academy this year.

If you have questions about the Master Academy, please contact Kassie at vanremok@uwgb.edu.

Serving Alcohol Inc. wants you to know that they have updated their training for the Tobacco Check Certification now required by the state of Wisconsin. The training is bundled on their website  and they wanted to pass this along to you, and to also help spread the word that their curriculum is up to date and complaint with the state requirements. Click here to check it out.

About Us

THE WMCA MISSION:
To be the premier source for the personal empowerment of municipal clerks in Wisconsin through education, professional development, and the promotion of excellence.

Check Out Our Website at:
www.wisclerks.org